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Dream Swamp Review – Family Fiesta, Alexander Theatre, Melbourne
★★★★☆
Dream Swamp is one of the most unique children’s performances we have seen, making it a wonderful addition to this year’s Family Fiesta at the Alexander Theatre, The Ian Potter Centre for Performing Arts.
Created by award-winning Australian choreographer Melanie Lane, this imaginative production was the Winner of the 2024 Melbourne Fringe Award for Best Kids Show.
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Designed for children aged 4–12, Dream Swamp invites young audiences into an immersive world where anything is possible. Over approximately 35 minutes (with no interval), children are taken on a magical journey through mysterious forests, murky swamps, caves, underwater worlds and even outer space. It’s an adventure told through contemporary dance, life-size puppetry, projection, music and stunning visual effects.
My kids are used to seeing fast-paced children’s entertainment filled with circus acts, acrobatics and high-energy performances, so it was refreshing for them to experience a production that tells its story almost entirely through movement. It encouraged them to slow down, watch closely and use their imagination to interpret what was happening on stage.
Performers Rachel Coulson and Harrison Ritchie-Jones movement was incredibly fluid as they danced, rolled, leapt and balanced effortlessly across the stage, constantly transforming into new characters and creatures. Their physical storytelling was expressive and engaging, keeping both children and adults curious about where the adventure would lead next.
One of the highlights of the production was the creative use of props and set pieces. A simple mattress transformed into an enormous life-sized puppet, while a lampshade and sheet became a whimsical mushroom. These clever transformations sparked plenty of conversations after the show, showing how everyday objects can be transformed into something truly magical through the power of imagination.
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The digital projections and video animation beautifully complemented the live performance, transporting the audience between different scenes. One particularly memorable moment was the underwater sequence, where flowing blue fabric extended out into the audience, making children feel as though they were part of the underwater adventure. It was a simple but highly effective way to keep young audience members engaged.
While Dream Swamp is certainly surreal and dreamlike, it also has plenty of funny moments that had children giggling throughout the performance, including the hilarious crab scuttling across the stage. The combination of contemporary dance, puppetry, sound and visual storytelling creates a truly unique theatrical experience unlike any children’s production I have seen before.
Dream Swamp is a fantastic way to introduce children to dance and a different style of live performance, celebrating imagination, creativity and curiosity while encouraging them to interpret the story in their own way.
Cast & Creative Team
Concept, Choreography & Set Design: Melanie Lane
Performance: Rachel Coulson and Harrison Ritchie-Jones
Video Animation: Tianyi Liao
Lighting & Production: Ash Shearman
Costume & Set Design: Geoffrey Watson
Producer: Freya Waterson
Associate Producer: Chelsea Byrne
Running time: Approximately 35 minutes (no interval)
There are no more shows at Alexander Theatre, The Ian Potter Centre for Performing Arts, but if you ever get the chance to see Dream Swamp when it returns to Melbourne, it’s definitely one to add to your list.
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